Udit Narayan, the veteran playback singer, has found himself at the center of a controversy after a video from one of his concerts went viral. In the clip, the 69-year-old singer is seen returning kisses from fans during his performance of the popular song Tip Tip Barsa Paani (from Mohra, 1994). At one point, he is even seen kissing a female fan on the lips, as she attempted to kiss him on the cheek. The incident sparked an online uproar, with many criticizing his actions as inappropriate.
In response to the backlash, Narayan expressed surprise at the intensity of the reaction. Speaking to HT City, he explained, “Fans are so passionate, you know. We are not like that, we are decent people. Some people express their love this way. There are so many people in the crowd, and we have bodyguards. Fans think it’s their chance to meet, and some extend their hands for a handshake, while others kiss hands… it’s all just madness. There’s no need to focus on it so much.”
The video quickly became a topic of heated debate online, with some Reddit users condemning the incident, calling it disrespectful for a person of his age, while others labelled it “disgusting.”
Narayan, however, suggested that there could be a deeper motive behind the controversy. He shared, “My family’s image is such that everyone wants a controversy to happen. Aditya (Narayan, his son) stays quiet and doesn’t get involved in such things. Maybe some people want to stir trouble.”
Referring to the specific moment when he kissed a fan on the lips, he clarified that it was an unplanned gesture. “I’ve been in Bollywood for 46 years, and my image has never been one of forcefully kissing fans. In fact, when fans show me love, I fold my hands and bow down, thinking, ‘Let this moment never come back again,’” Narayan concluded.
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